[The existence of a natural son of Cardinal Wolsey is a _fact_ as well
ascertained as any other _fact_ of the Cardinal's history, and referred
to in the various biographies of him that have appeared. His name was
Thomas Winter. In Chalmers's _Biographical Dictionary_, vol. xxxii. pp.
255. and 256. _note_, reference is made to a Bull of Pope Julius II.,
dated August, 1508, to be found in Kennet's MSS. in the British Museum,
in which he is styled, "dilecti filio Thomæ Wulcy," Rector of Lymington
diocese of Bath and Wells, Master of Arts, "_pro dispensatione ad
tertium incompatibile_." This is explained by the passage in Wood's
_Athenæ Oxon. Fasti_, part i. p. 73. (Bliss ed.), relating to him.
"This Tho. Winter, who was nephew (or rather nat. son) to Cardinal Tho.
Wolsey, had several dignities confer'd upon him before he was of age,
by the means of the said Cardinal," viz. the archedeaconry of York,
1523; chancellorship of the church of Sarum; the deanery of Wells,
1525; the provostship of Beverly; and the archdeaconry of Richmond,
&c.: on which there is a note by Baker, that "this Tho. Winter is said
to have held of the church's goods clearly more than 2000 pds. per an."
Wood adds, that about the time of the Cardinal's fall, he gave up all
or most of his dignities, keeping only the archdeaconry of York, which
he resigned also in 1540. In Grove's _Life and Times of Cardinal
Wolsey_, vol. iv. p. 315., among the "Articles" against the Cardinal,
Article XXVII. expressly charges him, "that he took from his son Winter
his income of 2,700l. a-year, applied it to his own use, and gave him
only 200l. yearly to live on." A reference is made in Sir H. Ellis's
_Letters Illustrative of English History_, 2nd Series, vol. ii. p. 70.,
to a letter of Edmund Harvel to Dr. Starkey, dated from Venice, April
1535, in which the writer expresses his obligations to Mr. Winter, for
his "friendly mynde toward him," and begs him to return his thanks.
In Mr. Galt's _Life of Wolsey_ (Appendix IV. p. 424. of Bogue's
edition) will be found a copy of a letter from John Clusy to Cromwell,
in relation to a natural daughter of Wolsey's in the nunnery of
Shaftesbury.]
_Cardinals and Abbots in the English Church._--It may not be generally
known, but the fact is so, that the English church numbers two CARDINALS
and a LORD ABBOT amongst her members. In Whitaker's _Clerical Diary_, under
the head of London Diocese, there is attached to St. Paul's a senior and a
junior cardinal; and in Ireland exists the exempt jurisdiction of Newry and
Mourne, under the government of the Lord Abbot, who is the Earl of
Kilmorey. Can any of your readers give me any information respecting these
officials?